Taking Bob Dylan’s lyrics as a departure point – “A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do” – this book provides servicemembers, veterans, and their families with a critical road map for becoming financially independent prior to committing themselves to full-time retirement in their 60s or 70s.Indeed, taking himself as a prime example, the author outlines how military personnel who are retiring in their early 40s can become happily semi-retired and thus avoid the necessity of pursuing what is often a less than fulfilling second career in government or the corporate world.Emphasizing the importance of family, lifestyle, and bridge careers, the book goes a long way in providing answers to one of today’s most important career transition questions: “What do you want to do with the rest of your life?”Dispelling numerous myths about military transition, finances, and retirement, the book focuses on the two most important benefits military retirees can build upon for creating a financially independent and semi-retired lifestyle:• military pension• TRICAREIt shows how to build a sound financial house based upon military benefits, savings, investment portfolios, bridge careers, part-time work, and frugal living.Filled with examples, checklists, recommended websites, and a rich collection of appendices that deal with inflation, multiple income streams, and the value of a military pension, this ground-breaking book is essential reading for anyone contemplating retiring from the military or jump-starting their post-military career in the direction of sem-retirement and/or full-time retirement.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Nordman knows his stuff-- aneye-opener on how good life can be after a military career. A richresource to maximize your benefits and make the most of your life." --Bob Clyatt, author of "Work Less, Live More"

From the Author

I've been tinkering with retirement planners since the 1980s. After afew years of research I realized that our growing portfolio income(plus my pension) would nearly replace my active-duty pay. We wouldn'tbe rich but we'd be financially independent.

As my retirement date approached I started working through the"career skill assessments" and "interest surveys," but they weren'tencouraging: middle management and nuclear engineering. Good to know,but I'd already endured nearly 20 years of that.

My spouse and I had always tracked our spending and tried tofollow a budget. We'd always saved most of our pay raises (and investedthem) and we'd tried to live a low-key frugal life. We were raising afamily and didn't really have time to get swept up in consumerism. Wemade the usual financial mistakes but we managed to keep saving.

As the months went by, I realized that very few militaryretirees stop working after the military. Most veterans immediatelyfind a bridge career and work into their 60s or even longer.

The perpetual challenges for early retirees are decades ofinflation and affordable health insurance. Yet military retirees have apension with a COLA and cheap healthcare, so why are they stillworking?

The answers aren't complicated, but it's a highlyindividual decision with a number of factors.Many veterans are still working because we didn't realize that we couldretire! I've learned that a military career offers plenty ofopportunities for financial independence, but most people don't realizethis until it's almost too late. A few years of planning, budgeting,saving, and investing could make all the difference between leaving themilitary for a civilian career...or retiring to enjoy life. Eitherdecision can be a good one, but would you like to have a choice?

The stories and advice of 50+ veterans are distilled into TheMilitary Guide. You'll be able to use our centuries of financial andretirement experience to find your own path. It's not as mysterious orpainful as it seems, and we'll show you how!

Top customer reviews

This book covers a lot of information. What stands out the most is that is anyone can use the information in this book. It covers scenarios on how national guard, reservists, or active duty personnel can take advantage of using their income to acheive finanancial independence. Even if personnel decide to leave the military before retirement eligibility, they can use this book to gather ideas on how to continue taking advantage of vehicles like the TSP to reach an eventual path to wealth. Highly recommended reading for any military person or anyone considering the military as a career path.

This is a great book for those serving or who have served in the Armed Forces. I wish I had this when I was a young Ensign starting off my career almost 30 years ago. The author provides straight forward advice on saving for retirement; whether you are retiring early or in your 60s. The section on Reserve retirements was especially helpful since there isn't much information on this topic. The explanation about how inflation eats away at your investments is a real eye opener. I'll be exploring many of the links provided as well as the recommended reading section. All profits go to military charities! Highly recommended.

I am grateful that I purchased and read this book! It has answered many of my questions and concerns about the possibility of truly becoming an "early retiree." I have not found this information in any other books that I have recently read on retirement (in particular military retirement). I highly recommend this book to anyone who will be leaving or retiring from the military. It is applicable to all ... not just those who are 20+'rs. Thank you again, Doug, for writing an outstanding informative book! I know I will be referring to it in the years to come.

I am not a military man, or even a US citizen but I found much of use in this book.The example of how to fund shortfalls in early retirement could apply to many of us.I also found the non financial aspects very useful.I will now read Bob Clyatt for some detail on early retirement numbers.Many thanks for writing this book Doug

Must read for anyone currently or formerly in the military. Covers all sorts of variations in careers (e.g. 6 yrs and our, National Guard/Reserves, 20+ year retirements). Great advice on every page. Pretty quick read too.